Leap Academy with Ilana Golan | Episode 143 Guest: Kim Storin, CMO of Zoom
Date: February 3, 2026
Host: Ilana Golan

Episode Overview

This episode features an insightful conversation between host Ilana Golan and Kim Storin, the Chief Marketing Officer of Zoom. They dive deep into career reinvention, leading through periods of intense brand transformation, and the personal and organizational challenges of adapting in a rapidly shifting business landscape—especially in the context of technology, AI, and the attention economy. Kim shares her personal journey from a bold, curious child to a consultant and now leading marketing at one of tech’s most recognized brands. The episode brims with practical advice on self-discovery, transformative leadership, and building a fulfilling, portfolio-style career.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Influences and Boldness (03:56 - 06:00)

• Kim recounts childhood artifacts—a self-written book at age 10 and a bold fundraising letter to Michael Dell, revealing early themes of leadership, community, and the confidence to “make the ask.”
  • Quote: “I obviously did not have a problem making very bold asks, even in third or fourth grade… Clearly I was doing that at an early age.” (Kim Storin, 05:33)

Translating Skills Across Contexts (06:45 - 10:30)

• Kim discusses moving from client service and consulting (MIS background, crisis comms, M&A) to operational roles in large enterprises.
  • Transferable Skills: The power of problem-solving, translating requirements, and connecting the dots from disparate data points became career-defining skills, more than technical expertise alone.
  • Quote: “That learning and understanding of what I enjoyed and what I was good at enabled me to hone in pretty quickly. That client service was my jam.” (Kim Storin, 08:30)
• Listener insight: Ilana underscores that success is often rooted in hard-to-label strengths, not traditional credentials.

Navigating Transformative Career Shifts (10:30 - 15:08)

• Consulting vs. Operational Roles: Kim reflects on leaving the adrenaline of consulting for the stability of industry, searching for new forms of engagement and drive.
• Diagnostic Self-Reflection: Kim emphasizes understanding what energizes you, and clearly communicating that to teams and leaders.

Receiving and Internalizing Hard Feedback (15:08 - 17:27)

• Formative Moment: Early in her Dell tenure, tough feedback that she was “the smartest person in the room and [made] sure everybody knows it” prompted deep introspection and coaching.
  • Quote: “It started with hard feedback… I worked with a coach to really uncover how do I get comfortable with not coming to the table with the proposal every single time. And it took that hard feedback… It was the hardest feedback I’ve had in my whole career.” (Kim Storin, 15:08)
• Leadership Lesson: Shift from always leading with answers to empowering teams and creating space for others.

The Athlete Mindset: Resilience Over Perfectionism (17:57 - 20:23)

• Kim describes herself as an ‘athlete for life’—not a star athlete, but someone who loves being active and is comfortable with losing.
  • Quote: “I never won anything… but I also am prepared to lose, and I’m okay with losing. And I’m a good loser. That has made me a better executive.” (Kim Storin, 18:40)
• Link to Leadership: The resilience, focus on process, and recovery from failure in sports translate directly to business challenges.

Joining Zoom: The Challenge of Brand Reinvention (22:17 - 24:20)

• Getting the Role: Kim shares that her fit for Zoom was cultural—driven by a shared ambition to transform the company’s perception.
  • Quote: “Zoom is not a turnaround…but it is a transformation… Going from a perception of one product in the market to a perception of being a broad portfolio of solutions.” (Kim Storin, 22:28)

Research, Customer Love, and the Universal Truth (25:33 - 28:39)

• Pre-Start Approach: Before joining, Kim personally interviewed 50+ customers to understand how Zoom was perceived and used.
  • Quote: “People love Zoom… most B2B software companies do not have that same love.” (Kim Storin, 25:55)
• Brand Positioning: Unlocking and channeling that “love and affinity” became the foundation for Zoom’s new brand strategy.
  • Quote: “Marketing is the voice of the market and the voice to the market. So often we get caught up in the execution… we forget about the strategy.” (Kim Storin, 28:18)

Marketing in the Age of AI and the Attention Economy (29:12 - 31:38)

• Changing Discovery Paths: Over 50% of prospects now begin product discovery through large language models (LLMs), not traditional search.
  • Quote: “We’ve gone past 50%… starting their discovery process on LLMs. We’re going to be at zero click before we know it.” (Kim Storin, 29:18)
• Agility and Fundamentals: Performance marketing is less reliable; community and brand-building are more crucial than ever.

AI as a Workflow Enabler, Not a Job Threat (32:14 - 34:50)

• Zoom’s AI Strategy: AI is integrated across all meeting workflows at Zoom, focusing on “workflow, not function.”
  • Quote: “AI doesn’t care about your function… it cares about your workflow. And AI that is most impactful is the AI embedded into that workflow.” (Kim Storin, 32:37)
• Human Element: Even the best AI requires human creativity and oversight.

The Persisting Value of Real Community & In-Person Experience (34:50 - 36:35)

• Event Renaissance: Amidst digital overload, in-person and hybrid experiences (like Leap Academy events) are more valuable—people crave authentic human connection.
  • Quote: “People are tired of AI slop and that’s why you’re seeing events matter more than ever… We have to continue to figure out how to recreate that emotional connection to the brand, even if we are digital.” (Kim Storin, 33:39 & 34:31)

Redefining Success: Beyond KPIs to Legacy and Fulfillment (38:02 - 41:10)

• Brand Impact is Hard to Measure: Financial metrics are critical, but Kim also values team health, empowerment, and culture—“metrics of success” beyond the numbers.
  • Quote: “Time is short, life is short. We don’t need to be spending our life doing things that don’t fulfill us emotionally or culturally.” (Kim Storin, 40:31)

Embracing the Portfolio Career Trend (42:15 - 45:17)

• Kim’s Portfolio: Teaching Pilates, philanthropic work, and advisory roles complement and enhance her CMO responsibilities.
  • Quote: “Teaching Pilates has enabled me to improve my public speaking. It has helped me figure out how I communicate differently… Not only do I love it… it also helps me in being a better leader.” (Kim Storin, 43:10)
• Advice for Leaders: Support side pursuits unless they hinder primary commitments; interconnections create unique value for both individuals and organizations.

Advice to Her Younger Self (46:28 - 47:10)

• Kim’s core wisdom: Enjoy the journey, don’t rush to grow up.
  • Quote: “Don’t grow up so fast… Embrace the elements of childlike wonder we wanted to move away from so fast.” (Kim Storin, 46:37)

Getting in Touch & Takeaways (47:21 - End)

• Kim encourages listeners to learn about Zoom’s full portfolio and to connect with her on LinkedIn—especially for conversations about AI, marketing, or career growth.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kim on self-awareness and feedback:
  “That feedback was really the catalyst of a lot of hard reflection… who am I as a leader? And am I a leader that people want to follow?” (15:54)
• On embracing career change:
  “It wasn’t about the job. It was about me, and it was about who I worked with… with change, with transformation, with really hard problems, you’re going to get the most out of me.” (12:07)
• On AI’s future in marketing:
  “It is not going to replace all marketing humans. Probably not in our lifetime even… you have to have a human in the loop, right?” (32:55)
• On the new portfolio of self and career:
  “Life is a career lattice. There are going to be times where you dial up, dial down because of life… but that’s different than back burnering.” (45:05)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Childhood stories & boldness: 03:56 – 06:00
• Translating and leveraging unique skills: 06:45 – 10:30
• Consulting to operational leadership: 10:30 – 15:08
• Receiving tough feedback: 15:08 – 17:27
• Athlete mindset & resilience: 17:57 – 20:23
• Joining Zoom and brand transformation challenge: 22:17 – 24:20
• Building “brand love” and strategizing transformation: 25:33 – 28:39
• Marketing shifts—AI and the attention economy: 29:12 – 31:38
• The human element in AI-powered work: 32:14 – 34:50
• Community, events, and human connection: 34:50 – 36:35
• Redefining success and fulfillment: 38:02 – 41:10
• The value and management of a portfolio career: 42:15 – 45:17
• Wisdom for her younger self: 46:28 – 47:10

Final Thoughts

This episode is an excellent resource for aspiring leaders, marketers, or anyone considering a career leap or reinvention. Kim Storin opens up about pivotal moments, the value of transformative feedback, how to lead teams through ambiguity, and the necessity of building lives—and brands—that are resilient and agile in a world of unrelenting change.

Connect with Kim on LinkedIn and learn more about Zoom’s evolving platform at zoom.us.

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